Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Family at Stake
Author: Molly O'Keefe
Publisher: Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0-373-71365-7
Release Date: August 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Series Romance
Year/Setting: Current/California
Overall Rating: 4.8
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Molly's Website:
www.molly-okeefe.com
Imagine working your whole adulthood to put your childhood behind you? Then imagine that in moments, with the opening of one file, all of your childhood comes rushing back – the good and the bad. But, in particular with this file, the good. Rachel Filmore was asked to leave by her father the moment she graduated. She was more than willing to do so after a life time of his abuse towards her, her brother and her mother. The only hard part of leaving was walking away from her best friend, Mac Edwards. They had been friends so long and with such depth that leaving him about tore her heart out especially given the fact she discovered feelings toward him that weren’t exactly friendly on graduation night. She and Mac both learned a bit about adulthood that night – before she walked away the next morning.
Rachel had built a good life for herself in Santa Barbara. She was a respected social worker for DCFS and loved working to protect the children. The file in question was given to her after another worker retired and involved Mac and his twelve year old daughter, Amanda. Frank (the retired worker) had recommended Amanda be removed from the home because he suspected abuse since the daughter had recently developed behavioral issues.
Rachel knew it was against every code she lived by to take on this case with her conflict of interest involved but she also knew with every fiber of her being that Mac would be a good father. After meeting Amanda, Rachel is even more convinced there is more to the story than Amanda is telling her and she is determined to make sure Amanda and Mac get to stay together – even at the risk of her career.
I think one of the best things to come out of this story for me was the ethical issues Rachel faced and how she dealt with them. In today’s world it is easy to miss ethics especially on the job. But Rachel is honest with herself and takes a good look at the issues on the table. Yes, she is curious about how Mac turned out and what New Springs (her hometown) is like but that isn’t why she returns. She could have done that on her own time without risking anything. Even with the ethics on the table, Rachel knows the right thing is for these two people to be together and she is willing to fight against her boss and even Mac himself in order to make sure they stay together.
Most especially she fights against the barriers put up by a little girl who has been hurt. By fighting the good fight, Rachel breaks down those walls and helps to heal Amanda’s heart. There is so much sweetness in this story and truly a venue for good overcoming evil. Sometimes just holding your hand out in love and standing up through it all is the picture those around you need to see.
Lori
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